Music critic Chuck Eddy, contributor to Rolling Stone and Spin, has created a much-needed guide to heavy-metal music, but his opinions will incense nearly every hard-rock fan. In addition to ranking the albums (from 1 to 500), he adds commentary on the band and why it fared as it did.

``Stairway to Hell`` starts strong by naming Led Zeppelin`s ``Zoso``

(also known as ``Led Zeppelin IV``) as the No. 1 metal album of all time. Although readers` opinions will vary, most will understand why a compilation of songs such as ``Black Dog,`` ``Rock and Roll`` and ``Stairway to Heaven``

should finish first.

Other Top 10 finalists, from Alice Cooper`s ``Greatest Hits`` to Aerosmith`s ``Toys in the Attic`` to Lynyrd Skynyrd`s ``Second Helping,`` are cool picks.

From there, it quickly becomes controversial. Naming Guns N` Roses`

``Appetite for Destruction`` as the No. 2 album seems an attempt to seek favor with the band`s massive audience. And Eddy`s referrals to Axl Rose as a new Bob Dylan suggest the author heard Guns N` Roses` cover of ``Knockin` on Heaven`s Door`` too many times and became disoriented.

The book`s faults are obvious. Teena Marie ranks in the Top 10, and two Kix albums waste space in the Top 15. Kix? Says Eddy, ``There is no other `80s `rock` that can approach the joy in this music.`` Chuck, don`t make us laugh.

Placing the AC/DC masterpiece ``Back in Black`` at No. 380 will infuriate any rock fan. Notes Eddy, ``This is the Led Zep II of the `80s, drab in the same way.`` The fact that ``Black`` sold 10 million copies, is considered an unintentional greatest-hits album, and was a timely tribute to dead AC/DC singer Bon Scott should easily place it in the Top 5.

Eddy is generous to some lesser-known bands such as Amon Duul II or the Adverts, something that may inspire readers to seek out these LPs in used record stores. He also praises underrated bands like The Stooges (their albums are rated 26 and 39) and Precious Metal (36 and 91).

Overall, Eddy seems out of touch, unable to grasp the blatant commerciality of bands like Poison (35 and 140) or the influence of Motley Crue, which doesn`t even make the list despite the fact that it was the original Poison.

The low ratings given to Queensryche (398), Soundgarden (445), Living Colour (461), Anthrax (450), Mountain (349), Molly Hatchet (478) and Metallica (417), and his ignorance of Van Halen show that Eddy cares more about being unique than being honest.

The book also contains a chapter on the 100 best heavy-metal singles not on the Top 500 albums. This section gives forgotten bands their just deserts with choices like T. Rex`s ``Bang a Gong (Get it On)`` (34) and Judas Priest`s ``Living After Midnight,`` which should be No. 1, rather than 96. Eddy gets extra credit for ranking Steely Dan`s ``Black Friday`` at No. 71.

Overall, ``Stairway to Hell`` is disagreeable and only slightly informative. Sometimes it`s fun, but it will probably send true metalheads on a rampage.